Former Georgia Deputies Acquitted in High-Profile Murder Case

Sat Nov 22 2025 07:06:08 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

After years of legal battles, three former Georgia sheriff's deputies were found not guilty of murder in the death of Eurie Martin, a Black man whose request for water led to a tragic confrontation.

In a case that has drawn significant attention, three former Georgia sheriff's deputies were acquitted of murder charges in the 2017 death of Eurie Martin, a Black man who was shocked with Tasers after asking a homeowner for water. After two trials and eight years, the jury found the deputies not guilty of murder and aggravated assault, but deadlocked on other charges. The incident has raised profound questions about law enforcement practices and community relations.

SANDERSVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Three former Georgia sheriff’s deputies have been found not guilty of murder in the death of a Black man who raised a white homeowner’s suspicions by asking for a drink of water while walking through a small Georgia town.

Eurie Martin, 58, was repeatedly shocked with Tasers after he refused to answer their questions. Henry Lee Copeland, Michael Howell and Rhett Scott claimed he was illegally walking in the road, dropping a soda can and aggressively refusing to comply with their commands.

After eight years and two trials, the jury verdicts late Thursday cleared all three of murder and aggravated assault charges. While Scott was acquitted on all charges, jurors could not reach a decision on involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct charges against Copeland and Howell. A mistrial in 2021 had ended in a deadlock.

Martin's family expressed disappointment and heartbreak after the verdict. Karen Scott, mother of one of the deputies, shared her relief, saying, “We’re elated.” But Martin’s sister, Helen Gilbert, voiced her sorrow, stating, “After eight long years, I’m just very disappointed.”

Footage of the incident showed Martin was walking in the heat, heading to visit relatives when he encountered the deputies. His family indicated he had several health issues and was dehydrated.

Testimony revealed that the homeowner, Cyrus Harris Jr., called authorities after Martin requested water, describing him as a 'rough-looking character.' When deputies arrived, they found Martin in the roadway and used Tasers after he allegedly disregarded their orders.

Defense attorney Shawn Merzlak claimed their use of force was justified, while prosecutor George Lipscomb questioned the rationale behind treating such minor infractions as warranting lethal force.

The case has raised ongoing conversations about community-police relations in Washington County and the broader implications of officer conduct during encounters with the public.